Monday, March 31, 2008

After a particularly fierce battle, General "Stonewall" Jackson was asked by a subordinate how he could remain so calm in the presence of so much danger. He replied, "Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me." He added, after a pause, looking the soldier full in the face: "That is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave."

Friday, March 28, 2008

Creative Fiction (as displayed upon the bumpers of liberals): “Better a Bleeding Heart Than None at All,” “The Moral High Ground is Built Upon Compassion,” “Arms Are For Hugging,” “Jesus is a Liberal,” “God Wants Spiritual Fruits, Not Religious Nuts,” “The Road to Hell is Paved With Republicans,” “Republicans Are People Too – Mean, Selfish, Greedy People” and so on. You get the idea.

* Although liberal family incomes average 6% higher than those of conservative families, conservative headed households give, on average, 30% more to charity than the average liberal headed household.

* Conservatives also donate more time and give more blood.

* Residents of the states that voted for John Kerry in 2004 gave smaller percentages of their incomes to charity than did residents of states that voted for George Bush.

* Bush carried 24 of the 25 states where charitable giving was above average.

* People who reject the idea that “government has a responsibility to reduce income inequality” give an average of four times more than people who accept that proposition.

* In 2000, Vice President Al Gore gave 0.2% of his family income (one seventh of the average of donating households) while remaining steadfastly committed to giving our money (via taxes) to collectively support those he declined to support personally.

As always, it’s much better to actually do good than to merely talk about it. As St. John put it, “My little children, let us not love in word (or bumper-stickers for that matter), neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”

William Josiah Helsel was solemnly and joyfully received into the household of faith on February 24, 2008.Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible Church; but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, of his ingrafting into Christ of regeneration of remission of sins and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in the newness of life Which sacrament is, by Christ's own appointment, to be continued in His Church until the end of the world.

The outward element to be used in this sacrament is water, wherewith the party is to be baptized, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by a minister of the Gospel, lawfully called thereunto.

Dipping of the person into the water is not necessary; but Baptism is rightly administered by pouring, or sprinkling water upon the person.

Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ but also the infants of one, or both, believing parents, are to be baptized.

Although it is a great sin to contemn or neglect this ordinance yet grace and salvation are not so inseparably annexed unto it, as that no person can be regenerated, or saved, without it or, that all that are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated.

The efficacy of Baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered yet, notwithstanding, by the right use of this ordinance, the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited, and conferred, by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongs unto, according to the counsel of God's own will, in His appointed time.

The sacrament of Baptism is but once to be administered unto any person. (WCF XXVIII, emphasis mine)